Food Resource Center News

• Knights of Columbus Sponsors April Food Shipment
• First National Bank of River Falls Supports Food Resource Center
• Bremer Bank Employees Volunteer at Food Resource Center
• Family Fresh Market Donates 300 Meals to Food Resource Center
• Second Harvest Heartland Releases Food Report
• The Deerfield Sponsors January Food Shipment
• Valley Cartage Donates to Food Resource Center
• Hudson Rotary Club Sponsors May Food Distribution
• United Way Food Resource Center Invites Community to Open House
• United Way Food Resource Center July 2007 Update
• United Way and Trinity Lutheran Break Ground on Food Resource Center
• Western Wisconsin / Food Center Fundraising Begins
• Local United Way Launches Campaign to Build Food Resource Center

Knights of Columbus Sponsors April Food Shipment

United Way St. Croix Valley is thankful to Knights of Columbus for its $2,500 sponsorship of the April food shipment to the Food Resource Center. The following Councils participated in making the award: Ray Koller, Grand Knight, Council 5456; Patrick Bechel, Grand Knight, Council 6599; Donald Leier, Grand Knight, Council 4954; Dennis Malecek, Grand Knight, Council 7030; Paul Krenik, Grand Knight, Council 1762; Rob Daugherty, Grand Knight, Council 7342; BJ Grant, Grand Knight, Council 4902; Ed Colosky, Grand Knight, Council 6759.

Pictured left to right are Tom O'Connell, United Way St. Croix Valley Board Member; John Coughlin, United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director; Paul Krenik, Grand Knight, St. Croix Council 1762; and Jim Michaelson, District Deputy.

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First National Bank of River Falls Supports Food Resource Center

Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, First National Bank of River Falls was able to support United Way St. Croix Valley’s Food Resource Center for the month of August 2009. Beginning with a two dollar contribution from the bank for every completed customer survey, First National Bank’s efforts grew to include employee fundraising activities such as a breakfast where donations were accepted and a casual dress day for each employee who made a contribution to United Way. In addition, bank employees volunteered their time working at the Food Resource Center. Pictured L to R: Front row - Tammy Bruesewitz, Jeanne Harris and Kris Webster of First National Bank, John Coughlin of United Way St. Croix Valley, and Anders Olson and Brad Olson of the River Falls Food Pantry. Back row - Rick Prokash and Tim Cashman of First National Bank and Stephen Smith of the River Falls Food Pantry.

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Bremer Bank Employees Volunteer at Food Resource Center

Employees from Bremer Bank volunteered their time and effort at the United Way St. Croix Valley Food Resource Center as part of Bremer's "Taking Action Against Hunger" campaign. Pictured L to R: Front row - Maltee McMahon, David Tyvoll and Melanie Singleton. Back row - Christine Buckman.

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Family Fresh Market Donates 300 Meals to Food Resource Center

Family Fresh Market announced Wed., April 1 the donation of 300 meals to United Way St. Croix Valley's Food Resource Center. The meals serve a family of four and were presented to United Way Sat., April 4 at the Family Fresh Market in Hudson. For more details, read the news release from Family Fresh Market.

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Second Harvest Heartland Releases Food Report

A major partner of United Way's Food Resource Center, Second Harvest Heartland, has released a report online detailing the current unmet food needs in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The results of the report state that 165 million more meals per year are needed in order to ensure all low-income individuals and families in the area have enough food for three nutritious meals each day. This translates to 12% more food needed in Minnesota and 18% more food in western Wisconsin. The missing amounts are equivalent to all area low-income families missing 14 meals each month.

You can help Second Harvest Heartland and United Way St. Croix Valley work to solve this problem by supporting the United Way Food Resource Center. Please visit our Give page to learn more about how you can help. To learn more about Second Harvest Heartland, please visit www.2harvest.org.

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The Deerfield Sponsors January Food Shipment

The Deerfield is happy to announce that they have reached their goal to raise $2,500 to purchase the January shipment of a semi truck-load containing more than 20,000 pounds of food for the United Way Food Resource Center. Since February of 2008, the Food Resource Center has distributed more than 273,000 pounds of food to area pantries, shelters and meal programs. “It was a stretch for us, but we felt we were successful because of the prevalent need in Western Wisconsin. It was something that both staff and residents were passionate about. This was a great opportunity for outreach in our community,” JoAnn Wrich, Campus Administrator for The Deerfield, said. Pictured L to R: JoAnn Wrich, Judy Haworth, Administrative Assistant and Fundraising co-chair.

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Valley Cartage Donates to Food Resource Center

Valley Cartage delivers miscellaneous donations from Valley Cartage and Cardinal to the United Way St. Croix Valley Food Resource Center. View second photo.

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Hudson Rotary Club Sponsors May Food Distribution

Hudson Rotary Club is the second sponsor for the May Food Distribution on behalf of United Way St. Croix Valley’s Food Resource Center (FRC). Annette Murray Rud, Resource Development Manager for United Way accepted a $500 check from Shelli Erck, President of Hudson Rotary’s Noon Formation on May 22. More than 106,000 pounds of food and goods have been distributed to nearly twenty food pantries and community meal programs since the program began in February of this year. For more information on sponsorship levels, please view our sponsorship sheet.

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United Way Food Resource Center Invites Community to Open House

The United Way Food Resource Center will hold an open house on February 2, 2008 from noon to 2 p.m. During this time the public will be able to tour the new facility serving St. Croix and Pierce Counties. For more information, please view the press release.

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United Way Food Resource Center July 2007 Update

United Way and Trinity Lutheran Church have teamed up to begin construction of the United Way Food Resource Center. To learn about progress on the fundraising campaign and building construction, please view the July 2007 Food Resource Center update newsletter.

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United Way and Trinity Lutheran Break Ground on Food Resource Center

United Way St. Croix Valley and Trinity Lutheran Church broke ground on a Food Resource Center that will serve St. Croix and Pierce Counties. The building will also house Trinity’s We Do Feet ministry.

Pastor Tim Booth of Trinity Lutheran Church opened the "ground blessing" ceremony with a prayer. He spoke of the importance of doing Jesus' work in our communities. He said, "Jesus works through his people and we at Trinity Lutheran Church are excited to be part of this project to help people meet their basic needs. This Center will ensure that people have enough food and can also obtain good used furniture for their homes."

Jim Miller, president of the Trinity Lutheran Church Board, introduced guests from Trinity and the United Way board and staff. Les Berg from Trinity's We Do Feet explained that the group takes in used furniture and appliances, does needed repairs and then gets the items out to families in need. Berg said this is a perfect opportunity to partner and meet dual needs.

"I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate this important joint endeavor," John Coughlin, United Way St. Croix Valley Executive Director, said. "This project has moved very quickly from the time United Way first saw the need and our ability to support the work of the food pantries and shelters in our communities. There simply isn't enough storage for all the food that is needed to feed the hungry and this building will change that. Trinity and our lead donors quickly joined the drive to lead us to today’s turning of the soil."

Coughlin introduced major donors to the Food Resource Center. Lead supporters include: Ken Heiser, First National Bank of Hudson – soon to be part of the Associated Bank family; Jim Wookey, WESTconsin Credit Union; Heather McAbee, Bremer Bank in New Richmond, representing the Otto Bremer Foundation; and David Griffith and Jill Shannon from the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation.

Coughlin also thanked Nor-Lake Industries for the pledged donation of a freezer/cooler, and County Market, Hudson for the donation of shelving and lighting for the facility. Other donors have brought United Way to over 75% of the $250,000 fundraising goal for the building. He went on to explain that this facility will support an ongoing partnership with SUPERVALU. Since 2005, United Way has coordinated donations of surplus food and products from SUPERVALU to support local anti-hunger programs. Coughlin also mentioned a new partnership with Second Harvest Heartland and explained that shipments from Second Harvest will be received at the facility. Pantry and shelter volunteers will come to the Food Resource Center when they need to restock the shelves or pick up fresh and frozen foods. United Way’s overall goal for the project is to bring more surplus food into the Valley to ensure that no child ever goes to bed hungry.

Coughlin then invited those present to don hardhats and pick up the gold shovels for the official groundbreaking for the Food Resource Center.

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Western Wisconsin / Food Center Fundraising Begins

United Way needs $250,000 to build storage, distribution facility in Hudson

BY KEVIN HARTER
Pioneer Press

Article Last Updated: 05/17/2007 09:58:53 PM CDT
Pierce and St. Croix counties are among the wealthiest in the state, but thousands of people are going hungry, and a campaign is under way to put more food on more tables.

The United Way St. Croix Valley has begun a $250,000 fundraising campaign to build a food resource center in Hudson, a warehouse that would stock and supply food for programs that feed the needy.

"Food is arguably the most basic need for families and individuals in our community. The 10 food pantries serving Pierce and St. Croix counties have limited space to store food, and often the shelves are empty before the need is served," said John Coughlin, executive director of United Way St. Croix Valley.

The facility would store food and commodities for distribution to the food pantries, community meal programs and shelters. An industrial-size freezer and cooler inside will ensure a steady supply of milk, cheese, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables.

The warehouse and distribution center will cost about $150,000 to build, with the remainder used for maintenance and operations. United Way officials hope to have it open in September.

Building the new facility will improve efficiency at the food distribution programs, Coughlin said. And several unique partnerships should ensure success.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Hudson provided the site for the facility. And grocer Supervalu, which began making large donations to United Way in 2005, has agreed to provide more food once the facility is operational.

Supervalu has been great to us. ... Before Supervalu, we were running out of food, said Duana Bremer, director of Grace Place, a Somerset, Wis.-based shelter that also houses a food pantry.

The new facility also will be used to collect and store venison donated by area deer hunters. Last year, more than 23,000 pounds of venison were donated and processed.

St. Paul-based Second Harvest Heartland, the largest distributor of donated food in the region, which includes west-central Wisconsin, reported that the number of individuals served by member agencies has risen 45 percent since 2001 to 169,000.

"The food pantries - all of them - have seen increased need, which in this region has to do with the high costs of housing. Most of these people are not the stereotype. They are low-income, working people," said Coughlin.

"For some, it's food versus fuel or food versus medicine. It is a very critical issue," said Patrick Pesek-Herriges, of West CAP, a nonprofit social service agency serving food pantries and congregate meal sites in seven Wisconsin counties.

Kevin Harter can be reached at kharter@pioneerpress.com or 800-950-9080, ext. 2149.

For more information, go to www.unitedwaystcroix.org or call 715-377-0203.

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Local United Way Launches Campaign to Build Food Resource Center

United Way St. Croix Valley has launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign to build a Food Resource Center in Hudson with the goal of ending hunger in Western Wisconsin.

According to Second Harvest Heartland, the largest distributor of food in the Midwest, "Food insecurity exists whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods is uncertain or the ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways is limited. Hunger is the uneasy or painful sensations caused by lack of food."

Families and seniors in our communities often face the tough choice between buying food, paying rent or buying prescription medicines. And the number of families struggling to meet their basic needs is increasing every week. Second Harvest Heartland reports that individuals served by member agencies rose to 169,600 per month in 2005: an alarming 45% increase since 2001.

"Food is arguably the most basic need for families and individuals in our community. The ten food pantries serving Pierce and St. Croix Counties have limited space to store food and often the shelves empty out before the need is served. And there is often no place to store perishable food such as milk, cheese and the fresh produce," said John Coughlin, Executive Director.

United Way St. Croix Valley’s facility will store food and commodities for redistribution to food pantries, Grace Place shelter, the domestic abuse shelter and community meal programs. The Food Resource Center’s industrial-sized freezer and cooler will mean that pantries will have a steady supply of milk, cheese, eggs, fruits and fresh vegetables – bringing more food into the Valley. Pantry volunteers will pick up perishables at designated times for redistribution to residents of Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

The Food Resource Center will also provide freezer storage for donated venison. Hunters in the St. Croix Valley generously provide venison for hungry families and seniors. Last year, over 23,000 pounds of meat was processed into burger – triple the amount donated in the previous year.

United Way has an opportunity to build the Center as the result of a special partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity has agreed to lease the land for the building for $1 per year – making this important distribution center possible at a greatly reduced cost. The Center will be built at the Trinity Family Center on Highway 12 and Badlands Road in Hudson.

The building will also have a significant amount of open area that will be used for Trinity Lutheran Church’s "We Do Feet" ministry. The focus of this program is to help the needy by collecting, repairing and donating used furniture, beds and other household items. The space could also be used a distribution site for emergency supplies in case of a community crisis.

"Jesus teaches us that our life is to be a life of service. At Trinity, we try in practical, concrete, hands-on ways to provide the help and service that I think Jesus talks about," said Rev. Tim Booth, Trinity Lutheran Church.

Another driving reason for the project is United Way St. Croix Valley’s unique relationship with grocer SUPERVALU. Since 2005, SUPERVALU has partnered with United Way by making quarterly donations of surplus food and products to United Way St. Croix Valley for redistribution to food pantries, shelters and community meals. These programs lack space to accept these donations directly.

Currently, the semi-trailer deliveries of food from SUPERVALU are dropped at whatever business United Way can find that is willing to provide a corner of their warehouse.  SUPERVALU has offered to increase the frequency of the donations when the Food Resource Center is complete.

Bulk commodities, available through county and state programs, will also become a resource for the food pantries. The Center will be a drop site for large deliveries of food ordered from Second Harvest Heartland. Pantries can use cash donations to cover Second Harvest’s modest handling charge and get about $9 worth of food products for every $1 spent. Food can be safely stored at the Center until the pantries need it.

The $250,000 fundraising campaign has two components. $150,000 will be used to construct the building. The St. Croix Valley Community Foundation has committed a dollar for dollar match of $50,000 to create a $100,000 long-term fund for maintenance and operations of the facility.

United Way St. Croix Valley already has a strong partnership with nonprofit agencies working to address basic human needs – shelters, meal programs emergency assistance and food pantries. The Food Resource Center will take these critical community programs to a whole new level of service to those in need in Pierce and St. Croix Counties.

United Way sees five concrete outcomes as a result of this project:

• There will be a more efficient and cost-effective means to receive and store large quantities of food;
• Pantries will no longer run out of food and families can get the food that they need;
• Families can stretch limited budgets by receiving food, used furniture and other household items;
• Food will be available when subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs are closed during the summer months; and
• The Center will store household items such as medical supplies, toiletries, diapers, cleaners and paper products that cannot be purchased with food stamps.

"We invite community members and area businesses to be active partners in supporting this fight to end hunger," said United Way Board President Jim Dahl. "Together we will ensure that no child in the St. Croix Valley ever goes to bed hungry!"

For more information, visit www.unitedwaystcroix.org, or call 715-377-0203 ext. 102.

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